The antiseptic



No. 635,209. I I Patented 0st. l7, I899.

- G. W. VAN ALSTINE.

ANTISEPTIC DEVICE FOR SOUND TRANSMITTER MOUTHPIECES.

(Application filed Apr. e, 1899.)

(No Model.)

S M WM.

UNITED STATES PATENT Price.

GEORGE W. VAN ALSTINE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE ANTISEPTIC APPLIANCE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ANTISEPTIC DEVlCE FOR SOUND-TRANSMITTER MOUTHPIECES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,209, dated October 17, 1899. Application filed April 6, 1899. Serial No. 712,004. (No model.)

the mouthpieces of telephones and speaking--' tubes.

It is an object of my invention to provide means for catching all impurities which may be blown into the mouthpiece by the user and to hold such impurities out of the way of any danger of infection to any user and to prevent the impurities from coming into contact with the mouthpiece, the whole to be readily removed from the mouthpiece and destroyed, being of such an inexpensive character that frequent renewals will be acceptable from an economic point of View as well as' from hygienic considerations.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a telephonetransmitter provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 is an axial section of the mouthpiece ofthe same. Fig. 3isa front view of a transmitter-mouthpiece provided with my invention. Fig. 4E is an axial section of a modified form in which the cup is provided with an absorbent felt having a central hole. Fig. 5 is an axial section of a cup which is not reinforced.

A indicates the sound-transmitter mouthpiece. a

1 indicates a lining composed of a cup formed of antiseptic gauze. The antiseptic gauze which is preferred is known to the trade as bichromid gauze, and the purpose of using this gauze is to provide for the instan-- it may be fitted to the transmitter so that it will be held therein by friction, or a rim-piece B, of metal, with springtongues b may be applied. Said cup forms a receptacle inside the mouthpiece. said cup forms a screen inside the mouthpiece extending transverse the mouthpiece at a disand the telephone-diaphragm and also to destroy the germs which may come into contact The antiseptic-gauze bottom of I with the antiseptic gauze and to hold them out of the way. In this relation I will state that an object which is attained by myinven tion is perfect protection accomplished with extreme simplicity and cheapness, so that while the cup may be allowed to remain in the mouthpiece and will serve as a protection therefor for any desired length of time and may be effective as an antiseptic for a number of days still the simplicity and cheapness of the device are such that it may, without objection as to cost or convenience, be renewed every day or oftener if deemed necessary. If not removed, the foreign matters which may have been injected into the cup are held in the least objectionable manner,

so that there is no danger of coming into contact with or endangering any person who may subsequently use or approach the mouthpiece of the telephone.

By my invention 1 do not depend upon the odors or affluvia which arise from the disinfectant to perform the disinfecting office, but I provide an antiseptic-gauze cup which prevents the retention of any living germs, the

germs which are throwninto the mouthpiece being acted upon by the antiseptic contained in the antiseptic gauze.

My invention is to be distinguished from any of the devices in which it is proposed to 9 retain a body of fluid antiseptic, for the reason that such devices are more cumbersome and expensive than would serve my purpose.

My invention is also to be distinguished from any device comprising a diaphragm extending across the rim of the mouthpiece, for in such appliances the impurities blown from the month are intercepted outside the mouthpiece and are liable to adhere to the diaphragm and be there held in position close in front of the lips of the user of the mouthpiece and'without any protection to prevent the lips from coming into contact with such impurities. In such appliances it is necessary that the antiseptic substance shall not be allowed to become innocuous; otherwise the diaphragm becomes a menace by holding the impurities, microbes, and bacilli closer to the lips than would be the case if the diaphragm were dispensed with. By my invention this difficulty is avoided, and in case the gauze be omitted, if desired.

Different substances may be used, as desired, for saturating the felt and the gauze. For example, the gauze may be saturated with a percentage solution of corrosive sublimate,

known to science to be both safe and effective, and the felt may be saturated with the same, or it may be saturated with the pure essential oils or their active principles, such as thymal, menthol,eucalypthol,oranyotherwell-known antiseptic or any well-known combination of antiseptics which may be found suitable for the purpose. The felt is ordinarily omitted, but when used is preferably interposed between a reinforcing member 6 and the bottom of the cup, thus to form a chamber between the reinforcing member and the bottom of the cup in order to afford a more perfect guard against any particles of food, sputum, or other substance which might be blown from the substance, the essential oils affording an' agreeable and wholesome odor.

The rim for holding the gauze in place is preferably made of a ring B, of thin sheet I I 1 1 A P I A'I 1 of the rim of the mouthpiece, while the springtongues I) extend outward over the mouth of the mouthpiece to clasp the mouthpiece. The tongues can be bent toconform to diiferentsized mouthpieces, and the inner ring I) will cover the edge of the gauze cup, thus avoiding any danger of accidental displacement.

In practical use the lining should be renewed from time to time, as may be required, for the purpose of absolute cleanliness and safety. The lining may be removed and replaced with new every day or oftener in cases where it is found desirable to renew so frequently. \Vhere the mouthpiece is not subject to infection, the lining may remain for a greater length of time, and in case the mouthpiece is used by a consumptive or other persons with infectious or contagious disease the lining should be immediately removed and replaced with new.

, The cup forms a receptacle for the parti cles which may be blown from the mouth of the person using the mouthpiece and the particles will not come in contact with the walls of the mouthpiece, but are removed by removing the lining, as above set forth. lVhen the lining is removed, it will be burned or otherwise destroyed.

The ring and reinforcing member can be fastened to the cup member by any suitable means.

The starch of the gauze ordinarily affords sufficient binder for this purpose under the pressure applied in molding the cups.

Now, having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a sound-transmitter mouthpiece, a detachable cup formed of antiseptic gauze and inserted into the mouthpiece to form a receptacle in the mouthpiece with its bottom transverse said mouthpiece and forming a shield inside the same.

2. Ina sound-transmitter mouthpiece, a detachable cup formed of antiseptic gauze and inserted into the mouthpiece to form a receptacle in the mouthpiece with its bottom transverse the mouthpiece and forming a shield inside the same; and a ring of felt at the bottom of said cup. I

3. A detachable lining for a sound-transmitter mouthpiece consisting of a cup formed of antiseptic gauze; a ring of porous material saturated with a suitable antiseptic substance inserted in the cup; and a retainer of antiseptic gauze over the antiseptic felt.

GEORGE XV. VAN ALSTINE.

\Vitnesses:

JAMES R. TOWNSEND, 

